Sikorsky says it has completed developmental flight tests of its S-92 helicopter, fitted with a search and rescue automatic flight control system. A company news release says the AFCS is “the first to fly automated approaches to a set position ‘hooked’ by a search radar, flight management system way point, thermal imager, or digital map” In effect, it enables flight crews to continuously look out of the cockpit, making possible “a nighttime, [instrument flight rules] rescue in icing conditions.” The civil S-92 system is a subset of a “sophisticated” system in the company’s CSAR-X entry the H-92 Superhawk.
As Hurricane Melissa hammers the Caribbean, the U.S. Air Force’s “Hurricane Hunters” are busy flying into the massive Category 4 storm to collect atmospheric data—with one experiencing greater than expected turbulence Oct. 28.
